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Results tagged ‘ Kyle Farnsworth ’

Here’s a Hot Stove riddle: Two starting pitchers who posted ERAs of 3.30 or below last season, two hitters who combined for 50 home runs, and a shortstop with a strong all-around game — what do they have in common?

The answer is that they all remain free agents, with Spring Training lurking on the horizon. Sure, Ubaldo Jimenez, Ervin Santana, Nelson Cruz, Kendrys Morales and Stephen Drew all have their flaws. But there is something else at work, too.

All five players are tied to Draft pick compensation, a situation MLB.com’s Phil Rogers outlines in his latest column. The Frozen Five, as Rogers calls them, still figure to find multiyear deals, but the clock is ticking, and their options are dwindling.

In other news from around the league:

MLB.com’s Doug Miller takes stock of what remains on the market this offseason in The Week Ahead.

The D-backs have come up empty so far in their search for a starting pitcher, watching Masahiro Tanaka and Matt Garza sign elsewhere, but team president and CEO Derrick Hall said the club will continue looking. Bronson Arroyo is one potential target for Arizona.

The D-backs also reached a one-year deal with outfielder Gerardo Parra, avoiding arbitration.

Will the Yankees sign Drew or reliever Fernando Rodney? MLB.com’s Bryan Hoch tackles that question and more in his latest inbox.

In his inbox, Indians beat writer Jordan Bastian examines the situation involving Justin Masterson, who is headed toward an arbitration hearing and is set to become a free agent after this coming season.

Agent Scott Boras told FOXSports.com’s Jon Morosi that he is “very close” to getting deals for relievers Oliver Perez and Francisco Rodriguez, utility man Jeff Baker and Korean pitcher Suk-min Yoon. Several teams reportedly have interest in Yoon, with the Orioles one of those making an offer, according to The Baltimore Sun.

The Astros added another veteran arm to their staff, agreeing to a one-year deal with right-hander Jerome Williams.

Monday’s Minor League deals included a trio of relievers, with Kyle Farnsworth going to the Mets, and Armando Galarraga and Daniel Bard to the Rangers.

* The Dodgers acquired the best remaining starting pitcher on the
market, post-Oswalt, by swinging a deal for Lilly of the Cubs in
the afternoon. In the deal, the southpaw — a free agent after this season and
making $12 million in 2010 — infielder Ryan Theriotand $2.5 million go to Los Angeles, while infielder Blake
DeWitt and Minor League right-handed-pitching prospects Kyle Smit
and Brett Wallachhead
to Chicago.

* The Cardinals officially acquired Indians pitcher Jake
Westbrook in a three-team deal with the Indians and Padres. Westbrook
was scratched from his Saturday start as the deal was set into motion. The
Padres acquiredRyan Ludwickfrom the Cards, while Padres prospectCory Kluberwas sent to
Cleveland and pitcher Nick Greenwood went to St. Louis.

* A few other relievers were dealt just before the 4 p.m. ET Deadline.
Coveted left-hander Will Ohmanwent to the Marlins in exchange for Minor
League right-hander Rick VandenHurk; Pirates closer Octavio Dotel
was dealt to the Dodgers for right-hander James
McDonald and Minor League outfielder Andrew Lambo; Dotel’s
teammate, lefty Javier Lopez, was sent to the Giants for a couple of Minor
Leaguers; and the Giants got Ramon Ramirezfrom the Red Sox.

* Just before the Deadline, the Red Sox got catcher Jarrod Saltalamacchia from the
Rangers in exchange for two prospects — right-hander Ramon Mendez and
first baseman Chris McGuiness — and a player to be named later or cash.

* The Braves bolstered their bullpen and got some needed help in
the outfield by swinging a last-minute deal with the Royals, one
that brought right-handerKyle
Farnsworth and outfielder Rick Ankiel (along with cash
considerations) to Atlanta in exchange for outfielder Gregor Blanco,
right-hander Jesse Chavez and Minor League lefty Tim Collins.

* In what would have been a true Deadline blockbuster, FoxSports.com is reporting on Saturday that
the White Sox had been trying to acquire Manny Ramirez from the Dodgers,
but the Dodgers didn’t bite on the first attempt.

The Mets have had conversations with the Royals regarding Jeff Francoeur, but it’s doubtful that anything will come of that before Saturday’s non-waiver Trade Deadline.

Multiple published reports this weekend claimed that the Mets were interested in dealing Francoeur, who is making $5 million this season, for Royals reliever Kyle Farnsworth, who is making $4.5 million. On paper that matches up, considering the Mets’ desperate need for bullpen help. But the Mets are wary of trading Francoeur and then watching Carlos Beltran suffer a setback in his recovery from right knee surgery. Though Francoeur is nothing more than a fourth outfielder for the Mets at the moment, he is also an important source of depth.

That said, Francoeur told multiple news outlets this weekend that he would be receptive to any trade that would net him more playing time. The Royals could certainly offer that sort of situation.

The Tigers have had interest rumored in starting pitchers and shortstops the last several days, but manager Jim Leyland laid a subtle hint what his team’s most pressing need might be.

“I guess if you could make a wish, you might wish Santa would drop another good reliever,” Leyland told reporters Tuesday afernoon. “It might happen and it might not happen. I’d like to deepen it a little bit. We’ve actually survived decent, but you don’t know if it can continue.

“With the loss of [Bobby] Seay and [Zach] Miner, that was a big loss to start with. Now [Joel] Zumaya is out again. That’s three guys that you counted on. We’ve actually survived it pretty good. Whether we can continue or not, it remains to be seen. I’d just like to deepen it with maybe a little more experience or something. That’s easier said than done.”

Indeed, with so many teams looking for relief help, it’s a tall order. And as Leyland has said repeatedly, he doesn’t have much say on the trade front. Still, if you want to know what the Tigers really need, that just might be it.

Leyland’s comments came a day after his post-Zumaya bullpen mix seemed to take shape. Once the Tigers took a lead into the seventh inning Monday, Ryan Perry pitched an inning, followed by Phil Coke and closer Jose Valverde.

Ed Price of AOL Fanhouse posted Tuesday on Twitter that the Tigers had a scout at Monday’s Mariners-Royals game, supposedly to watch potential bullpen help. The Mariners were in Detroit for three games over the weekend, but they never saw Seattle closer David Aardsma and only saw Brandon League and Sean White once. The Royals bullpen has been in flux all season, though it has settled down lately. It’s unlikely the Tigers would welcome back Kyle Farnsworth, whose last stint in Detroit two years ago went horribly wrong for both the Tigers and Farnsworth.

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